Congrats to Jason Duren, co-owner and head cidermaker at Cider Corps, who has been named one of 29 Rising Stars in the food and beverage industry by FSR Magazine, which covers full-service restaurants nationwide.
Duren, an East Valley native, started making cider as a hobby while he recovered from two traumatic brain injuries sustained while serving in Afghanistan.
After going back to school to earn a degree in sustainable horticulture, he and his brother, Josh, opened Cider Corps in downtown Mesa in 2017.
Two years later, one of Duren’s ciders – Mango Foxtrot, dedicated to the armed forces – won a gold medal at the U.S. Open Cider Championship.
“Jason Duren’s inspiring story is not only a sterling example of the grit and determination that make the F&B world so special, it is also a testament to the power of small businesses to give back to the communities they serve,” FSR editor Nicole Duncan says.
Cider Corps, Arizona’s largest craft cidery, currently is building a production facility in Gilbert. It’s scheduled to open by fall.
